Corsair Force LS 240GB review: budget quality

Comparison with 20 other 240-256 GB SSDs

By Koen CrijnsFriday 4 October 2013 05:58

Introduction

Corsair has launched a new line of affordable SSDs, using the lesser known Phison PS3108 controller. We tested the 240 GB model to find out whether Corsair's new series can hold its own against some pretty stiff competition in terms of price and performance.

Unlike the markets it operates in, Corsair has been growing steadily over the past few years. Fewer RAM modules, power supplies and other PC components are being sold, but the combination of quality products and an effective marketing strategy has increased the market share of Corsair. In the Hardware.Info User System statistics, Corsair has been in first place the last six months when it comes to RAM, PSUs, case fans and CPU coolers.

There is one segment where Corsair still faces some challenge, and that's SSDs. With other products Corsair distinguishes itself with innovation and unique features, but with SSDs that's proving to be more difficult. The pretty red body is unique, but other than that the Force GS and Force GT series are really dime-a-dozen SandForce-based SSDs. Corsair took a different approach with the Neutron and Neutron GTX SSDs and instead worked with controller manufacturer Link A Media Devices (LAMD). And while the GTX versions perform very well, they're not as fast as the Samsung 840 Pro and OCZ Vector. However, that SSD controller is relatively unknown and Corsair doesn't have any in-house sources for controllers or flash memory in order to make really affordable SSDs, which are the main reasons for why the Neutron SSDs haven't been the big success Corsair was hoping for.

Selling large numbers of SSDs no longer happens in the high-end segment, only with the entry-level models. More and more consumers are becoming convinced of the advantages of SSDs, but still need the final push of lower prices. For that target audience, Corsair now has a new series, the Corsair Force LS, available in 60, 120 and 240 GB.